(JACKSON, MISS. – April 17, 2024) — Online nonprofit Western Governors University (WGU) will celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week May 6-10 by offering three scholarship programs for current and future education professionals in Mississippi who wish to pursue bachelor’s or master’s degrees in the Teachers College at WGU’s School of Education, the largest nonprofit, accredited school of education in the country.
The Mississippi Department of Education recently released its 2023-24 Educator Shortage survey that showed there are 5,012 current vacancies among teachers, administrators and school support staff across the state. In 2023, WGU’s Teachers College awarded more than $8 million in scholarships nationwide, marking a significant commitment to helping current and future educators earn their degrees and advance in their careers.
Each WGU Loves Teachers Scholarship and WGU Become a Teacher Scholarship is valued at up to $4,000. The WGU Loves Teachers Scholarship is designed to help current teachers improve their skill set in the classroom, move into administration, or to assist aspiring teachers in obtaining the required credentials for a rewarding future career as an educator. The WGU Become a Teacher Scholarship is geared toward those interested in becoming a paraprofessional or classroom aide, or in starting the journey to become a licensed K–12 educator.
Each of these two scholarships will be credited to the student’s account at the rate of $1,000 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms. Scholarships will be awarded based on a candidate’s academic record, financial need, readiness for online study at WGU, current competency, and other considerations.
In addition, from now through June 30, 2024, WGU is offering an Education Support Professionals Scholarship that may be applied toward any Teachers College degree programs leading to teacher licensure. This scholarship, worth up to $5,000, is a unique opportunity for paraprofessionals currently working in K-12 schools to receive funds toward tuition, plus a stipend for student teaching. This scholarship will be credited to the student’s account at the rate of $625 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms, with an additional $2,500 stipend for the student teaching term.
“Since its launch in 2003, WGU’s Teachers College has graduated more than 97,000 educators in every state in America,” said Nina Jackson, strategic partnerships manager for WGU. “By providing competency-based, flexible, online degree programs and low, flat-rate tuition, WGU empowers our students to progress through their courses as soon as they demonstrate mastery. This enables them to learn while working and graduate with less debt than their peers.”
WGU currently has more than 1,300 alumni in the state of Mississippi, including more than 300 from the university’s Teachers College.
New and enrolling WGU students may apply for the WGU Loves Teachers Scholarship at wgu.edu/teacherappreciation, WGU Become a Teacher Scholarship at wgu.edu/becomeateacher, and the Education Support Professionals Scholarship at wgu.edu/parascholarship, by June 30. To learn more about WGU’s Teachers College and its academic programs, visit wgu.edu/online-teaching-degrees.
About Western Governors University
A nonprofit, online university established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, WGU now serves more than 170,000 students nationwide and has awarded more than 360,000 degrees to nearly 320,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation’s leading competency-based university, WGU has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In less than 30 years, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families, and preparing the workforce needed in today’s rapidly evolving economy. WGU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, and has been featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN and The New York Times. Learn more at wgu.edu and wgu.edu/impact.
